QIMC to build first container plant in Qatar

Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Company (QIMC) has announced that it plans to set up the first glass container manufacturing unit in the country, with a capacity of 200 tonnes per day. According to a report, the unit will have an estimated cost of QR 230 million (USD 63.16 million).

QIMC has signed an agreement with GlassGlobal, a German consulting firm specialised in providing technical and advisory services to the glass industry worldwide. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed recently by QIMC chief executive Abdul Rahman Abdullah al-Ansari and GlassGlobal counterpart Andre Ommer aims to establish a general framework for technical co-operation between the two companies to complete the evaluation of the feasibility of a project to produce glass containers in Qatar.

It will also provide technical advice to the project through reviewing and evaluating the technical offers from the equipment suppliers and then participate in supervising the implementation of the project though out commissioning and start-up, it said.

The project has already obtained preliminary approvals and necessary official licences and currently work is being done to obtain the final approvals required for its implementation.

The project is the result of cooperation between QIMC and the Gulf Glass Factory Company, which includes number of Qatari and foreign investors and businessmen.

The proposed project aims to produce glass bottles and various containers used in the packaging of food products (oils, pickles, jams, honey) and beverages (drinking water, soft drinks, juices and dairy), added the report.

The project, the first of its kind in Qatar, will meet the needs of the ongoing growth and development through the provision of glass containers to a number of downstream projects, especially food industries, besides supporting the national economy by exporting its products to the world markets.

The project will provide jobs for about 140 staff.